Chapter 3: Angel of the East
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Mrs. Van cared in many ways. Scrubbing floors, emptying bedpans, running the kitchen when a dietitian quit without notice, typing, handwriting notes for every gift, putting Dr. Cooper’s nearly nonexistent records in order and maintaining them, paying bills, hiring and correcting employees, and helping overloaded nurses. No chore was beneath her. During monsoon season, Albuquerque’s sudden, voracious rains swallow everything in their path—streets, sidewalks, homes, and belongings. In the “olden days,” people grabbed what they could and headed for the sandhills. When soaked, buckled pavement broke a gas line, the San was without hot water and stoves. Kitchen staff built a bonfire on the grounds, while Mrs. Van dashed downtown to buy paper plates and cups since they couldn’t disinfect dishes. They brewed up a mulligan stew, with hot coffee and toasted
Above: Dr. Cooper’s notebook, record of pledge
Presbyterian Healthcare Services Photoarchive
circa 1915
Left: Barelas Bridge falling into Rio Grande after a flood Courtesy: Center for Southwest Research, 000-119-0624
circa 1910
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